Community News Roundup

Three Coconut Creek High School students were named winners in the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center's Visual Arts and Writing Contest.

Meynardo Garcia, Jessie Perez-Candella and Marlite Ductan beat out more than 450 other elementary, middle and high school students from throughout the country in the contest that was judged by Holocaust survivors, their children, artists and educators.

Garcia is the contest's over-all winner. He will receive a trip to Washington, D.C., where he will attend the Days of Remembrance in the rotunda of the Capitol Building as well as visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Perez-Candella won first place in the high school visual arts category. Ductan received an honorable mention in the same category.

All three students were taught by art teacher Jacqueline Sachs. And each received a U.S. Savings Bond.

Coral Springs

Gas-pricing signs to be more visible

The prices at the city's 31 gas stations are now permitted to become more visible to passers-by.

"The good news is now you'll be able to see the prices of the gas much easier," Commissioner Roy Gold said Tuesday when the City Commission gave tentative approval to the ordinance. "And the bad news is now you'll be able to see the prices of the gas much easier."

Price boards have been banned until now under the city's sign codes. Now, officials agreed that a gas price posted on the pump will be able to advertise the price as high as 10-inches for the dollar amount and 7.5-inches for the cents. The signs may be posted on the top of the pump up to one foot high for visibility from the roadway.

Gas stations are not obligated to post signs.

Mayor Scott Brook, who first proposed the change, said he wants people to be able to see the numbers from the street. He said he hopes the change will make prices more competitive.

The final vote is expected July 1.

Davie

Business lobby group gives Kiar high grades

The new legislative report card out from the business lobby Associated Industries of Florida mostly contains the expected grades: high marks for most Republicans, low marks for most Democrats - and a few not in the stereotypical spots for their parties.

One of the high grades went to state Rep. Martin Kiar, D-Davie.

The freshman legislator was the top scoring Democrat in the House, voting with business 93 percent of the time.

Overall the the House voted with business 90 percent of the time this year, down from 92 percent in 2007.

AIF said it based its 2008 Voting Records Report on thousands of votes cast on business-related bills and amendments.

ONLINE: More about local legislators' business grades on the Broward Politics blog at Sun-Sentinel.com/browardpolitics

Fort Lauderdale

Planning, zoning staff to review various plans

A restaurant, a yachting center and office space are among the plans submitted to the city by developers this month.

In a public meeting on June 24, the city's planning and zoning staff will review the proposals. The Development Review Committee meetings are where projects start through the approval process.

Many of them ultimately need City Commission approval, but some do not.

* Hilton of Fort Lauderdale, submitted by Costa Dorado Associates Ltd., to change about 7,000 square feet of retail space to restaurant use at 505 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.

* 105 N. Federal, submitted by a company with the same name, for 5,279 square feet of retail at 105 N. Federal Highway.

* SB Hotel Associates LLC wants the city to give up an eight-foot utility easement for the Trump International Hotel & Tower at the beach, at 551 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.

* A plat review has been requested for One Financial Plaza Plat, which is at 100 SE Third Ave., and currently the site of a high-rise office tower complex. One Financial Center Ltd. submitted the plans. That property sold for $65 million a year ago, according to Broward County Property Appraiser records.

* Plans for Portside Yachting Center at 1850 SE 17th St. are up for review. That proposal includes 206,157 square feet of office space, 18,121 square feet of retail and a 672 space parking facility.

Anyone interested can come to the city meeting at 700 NW 19th Ave., just off Sistrunk Boulevard east of where Interstate 95 passes over. The meeting begins at 9:45 a.m.

Go to the city's Web site at www.fortlauderdale.gov for more information, and for approximate times for each case.

Hollywood

Jubilee Dance Theater performs Friday, Saturday

Jubilee Dance Theater, a multicultural dance company, will perform its show "From the Inside-Out" at Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center in Hollywood.

The event will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 1770 Monroe St.